Council launches new 20mph limit proposals

Residents and businesses in the north-east of Croydon are being urged to say from next week if they want new 20mph speed limits on their local roads.

Croydon Council wants to know if enough people from Addiscombe to parts of South Norwood back their local non-main roads becoming the borough’s second 20mph limit area.

The borough’s first 20mph limit area is currently being introduced in the north of Croydon after a majority of respondents backed similar council proposals last year.

From Monday 4 April, the council is launching an online survey and delivering thousands of leaflets about the latest proposals to addresses in Addiscombe, Ashburton, Woodside, Shirley, Heathfield, Fairfield and parts of Selhurst and South Norwood.

As with the changes to the north of the borough, the latest proposals do not include A-roads. These roads would keep their existing speed limits, and they include:

Other roads in this area that would also not change to 20mph are Morland Road and Woodside Green which link two A-roads, the short Croydon-controlled stretch of Monks Orchard Road, private roads or the part of Orchard Way within Bromley Council’s boundary.

Residents, businesses and local groups have until midnight on 20 May to view a map of the proposed area and give their feedback online. The deadline for paper copies received by post is Monday 23 May.

After the survey closes, all feedback received will be analysed and published this summer. If there is enough public support for introducing 20mph limits across this area, the proposal will go to a formal consultation. The council’s traffic management committee would then make final recommendations.

Once in place, the council would monitor traffic speeds within the 20mph roads. If speeding remains an issue, options could include police enforcement and other traffic calming measures.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, introducing 20mph limits reduces vehicle speeds and cuts the risk of being injured in an accident. Other London councils, including Islington and Southwark, have already introduced borough-wide 20mph schemes.

“Residents in the north of our borough said yes to 20mph last year, and now we want to hear if people from the north-east want it too.
“Croydon had over 1,000 road casualties in 2014, which underlines why our 20mph plans are important and will make our borough safer for everyone if enough people come forward to support them.”

Councillor Kathy Bee, cabinet member for transport and environment

The council agreed last year to ask everyone in the borough by 2018 if they wanted a 20mph limit on their non-main roads. The north of the borough – parts of South Norwood, Selhurst, Bensham Manor, Thornton Heath and Upper Norwood – was first, and after this latest engagement in the north-east the council will outline its timetable for asking people in the remaining three areas of the borough.

Information on the north-east Croydon proposal will be available online from 4 April on the ‘Area 2’ proposal page at www.croydon.gov.uk/20mph.

The link to the online questionnaire for giving feedback can also be accessed from the same page. If you prefer to receive a paper copy, contact 020 8726 6000 extension 52831.